The England international has signed a six year contract to move to Upton Park, with the Hammers having the option of extending that by a further two years.

That means that should he stay for the full length of his deal, he is set to be the number 9 striker when the club move into the Olympic Stadium in 2016.

Carroll scored seven goals for West Ham in a rather injury interrupted spell on loan at the east London club last season, and it was enough to persuade chairmen David Gold and David Sullivan to part with a reported figure of £16 million for the hitman, as well as a colossal salary of £100,000 per week – though that of course does not compare with the £35m that Liverpool paid for him in the first place.

The 24 year-old is a classic Sam Allardyce type of player – strong, brilliant in the air, and tactically sound, and he has a chance to develop into a typical English centre forward at West Ham United.

However, if he is to become a permanent fixture in the England international side, Carroll will need to add a few more strings to his bow, though he could be a valuable impact performer for Roy Hodgson at next summer’s World Cup.

“It’s fantastic for me to be here. I really enjoyed last season, and that shows in me coming back and making it permanent,” said Carroll.

“The fans, the lads and the Club itself has been great to me, and what I wanted to do was come back here and play football.

“Since the end of the season I’ve had a lot of time to think, I’ve missed it and that’s why I’m back. Getting promoted the season before last, then finishing where we did – we did great, and it can only get better for us.

“The way the Club’s being run, obviously getting the new stadium and everything like that, it’s only going up.”